THE parents of a little girl who survived a life-threatening condition have raised £300 for The Sick Children’s Trust by taking part in its Big Chocolate Tea campaign.

Danielle Bestford, 26 and Corey Nelson, 22, of Wingate, east Durham, were told to prepare for the worst when their unborn baby was diagnosed with a condition which her lungs would be underdeveloped and she would struggle to survive.

Just hours after their daughter Evie was born at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI), she was rushed to Leicester Royal Infirmary’s Children’s Hospital for lifesaving treatment before being transferred back to the RVI.

She remained there for another six weeks, during which time her parents were supported with free accommodation at Crawford House, located in the hospital grounds and run by The Sick Children’s Trust.

Crawford House, which is located within the hospital grounds, is just a few minutes’ walk from the children’s wards and gave the couple a place where they could rest and recuperate.

The couple held the event to thank the charity for its support and also raised over £111 for Heart Link Children’s Charity.

Miss Bestford said: “Crawford House gave us somewhere we could go which was homely, clean and close to our daughter who was so poorly.

“We were just a few minutes’ walk from our baby at any time which meant we didn’t have the additional worries of travelling every day from our home in Durham to the hospital or worries about paying for a hotel in Newcastle.

“By keeping us together just minutes from Evie’s side, Crawford House gave us a lot of security as we knew that if anything bad were to happen, we were minutes rather than miles away.”

Miss Bestford said: “Evie is now doing really well and has been home with us for a few weeks now.

“Every day we see her getting stronger and stronger – she makes us so proud.”